Synopses & Reviews
Lawrence Block's novels win awards, grace bestseller lists, and get made into films. His short fiction is every bit as outstanding, and this complete collection of his short stories establishes the extraordinary skill, power, and versatility of this contemporary Grand Master.
Block's beloved series characters are on hand, including ex-cop Matt Scudder, bookselling burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, and the disarming duo of Chip Harrison and Leo Haig. Here, too, are Keller, the wistful hit man, and the natty attorney Martin Ehrengraf, who takes criminal cases on a contingency basis and whose clients always turn out to be innocent.
Keeping them company are dozens of other refugees from Block's dazzling imagination -- all caught up in more ingenious plots than you can shake a blunt instrument at.
Half a dozen of Block's stories have been shortlisted for the Edgar Award, and three have won it outright. Other stories have been read aloud on BBC Radio, dramatized on American and British television, and adapted for the stage and screen. All the tales in Block's three previous collections are here, along with two dozen new stories. Some will keep you on the edge of the chair. Others will make you roll on the floor laughing. And more than a few of them will give you something to think about. Enough Rope is an essential volume for Lawrence Block fans, and a dazzling introduction for others to the wonderful world of ... Block magic!
Review
"Do all the folks who bought the Collected Mystery Stories need to refresh their libraries with this update? Probably not. But true-blue mystery fans would be crazy to pass it up except for those determined to hold out for a future collection that tops a thousand pages." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"Block's latest is a fun but daunting doorstop collection of short stories....Most of the pieces are enjoyable but should not be read straight through; they tend to depend on similar themes and plot devices, which creates a sense of monotony by the end." Library Journal
Review
"Block fans should grab this collection of short stories; it's the only new work he will publish this year, though his best-selling Hope To Die is coming out in a mass market paperback, and his backlist is being repackaged. With 11 new stories." Library Journal
Review
"[A] fun but daunting doorstop collection of short stories. At almost 900 pages, it contains every short story Block ever wrote....The tales not about Block's regular set of characters are clearly the best, and a good portion of them would have made terrific episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents...." Library Journal
Review
Blocks wit and propensity for jaunty protagonists are on full display here.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Synopsis
This complete collection of short fiction by the acclaimed Mystery Writers Guild of America Grand Master--the only new title by Block to be released in 2002--contains mesmerizing tales of mystery and murder featuring Scudder, Keller, and Bernie, as well as a new cast of compelling characters in 11 new stories.
Synopsis
In this collection that includes nearly a dozen new works, the acclaimed Lawrence Block offers mesmerizing tales of mystery and murder featuring Scudder, Keller, and Bernie, as well as a whole new cast of compelling and memorable characters. Arranged by character in the order in which they were written, Enough Rope will entertain and mystify Block' s countless fans and makes a wonderful introduction for new readers discovering him for the first time.
About the Author
Lawrence Block is one of the most widely recognized names in the mystery genre. He has been named a Grand Master of the Mystery Writers of America and is a four-time winner of the prestigious Edgar and Shamus Awards, as well as a recipient of prizes in France, Germany, and Japan. He received the Diamond Dagger from the British Crime Writers' Association—only the third American to be given this award. He is a prolific author, having written more than fifty books and numerous short stories, and is a devoted New Yorker and an enthusiastic global traveler.